Southeastern Piano Festival introduces USC Piano Institute

For one week every June, the University of South Carolina School of Music’s Southeastern Piano Festival brings exciting piano artistry to South Carolina’s Midlands.

The Festival embraces a multi-faceted personality: it is a training platform for young pianists, a presenter of new and world-renowned concert pianists and masterpieces, an advocate for new piano music, and a vehicle for exploring different roles the piano plays on stage and beyond.

New this year: Early-advanced and advanced pre-college pianists aged 13 to 18 considering music study at the undergraduate college level and interested in a concentrated experience emblematic of the university experience can apply for the USC Piano Institute. Held June 6-11, Piano Institute participants will receive:

• Private lessons with USC piano faculty

• Opportunities to perform off-campus in Columbia

• Masterclass with guest artist Clayton Stephenson

• Evening concerts highlighting the USC music department and the piano in various areas (jazz, solo classical piano, chamber music) and a solo recital by Clayton Stephenson

About the Festival: The Southeastern Piano Festival offers evening concerts with a rich lineup of world-class pianists and musicians throughout the week. This year features Drew Petersen, Clayton Stephenson, Caleb Borick, the Congaree Trio, the USC Jazz Faculty, and the USC Piano Faculty.

• The week’s events culminate with the Arthur Fraser Piano Competition, June 11-14. This event has been the highlight of SEPF since the Festival’s inception in 2003. This competition is open to advanced pre-college pianists aged 13-18 who are US citizens from any location. 

• Winners receive cash rewards and perform in the final SEPF winners’ concert on Saturday, June 14.

Reach out: Artistic Director Phillip Bush and Executive Director Caroline Earp will be available for interviews before the festival. If you would like to arrange an interview, please email Marlena Crovatt-Bagwell, USC School of Music Marketing Director, or call (803) 777-7962.